Black College Expo Returns to New York

DIAMOND BAR, Calif.,-- New York State Senator Shirley L. Huntley welcomes the Black College Expo return to New York for its third year. The expo will take place on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 W. 34th Street, New York, NY 10001, with an after-show from 4-6 p.m. The mission is: share resources with students to help them get to college, pathways to internships and careers, and help students find money to pay for their education. One of the main seminar topics will be "How to find money for College". There will be a special roll out of a program for college students to receive up to $4,300 a month for college. Students will meet with various colleges, including 30+ historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Some colleges will be accepting students on the spot. Industry representatives will also be actively recruiting college students and recent graduates for internship and career opportunities.

The Black College Expo and its non-profit arm, National College Resources Foundation (NCRF), is a full service student and parent outreach program geared towards underrepresented youth and their families to curtail the high school drop out rate (currently at 30.1% nationally, according to EPE Research Center 2008) and to increase the college graduation rate among underrepresented and underserved groups. "Our goal is to do all we can to make college a reality for more of our youth and guide them toward positive career choices," says Founder, Theresa Price.

The day's events culminate with scholarship presentations to deserving students, a KFC step-show & dance competition and surprise celebrity guests. Senator Huntley will be on hand to present scholarship awards. "I am excited to take part in such a valuable event that helps so many of our young people pursue their dreams of going to college," says Huntley.

The Black College Expo, visits five to seven cities annually including Los Angeles, Oakland, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Washington, DC/Maryland and New York, now in its tenth year, has helped to increase college enrollment tremendously, in some cases by as much as 50% at some HBCUs. Black College Expo has helped over 250,000 students get into college and has given away over $500,000 in scholarships.